Bell Middle School

Summary:

Bell Middle School is a public middle school located in Golden, Colorado, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 731 students. The school is part of the Jefferson County School District No. R-1, which is ranked 35 out of 116 school districts in Colorado and is rated 4 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Bell Middle School consistently performs above the district and state averages in CMAS assessments for English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. In the 2023-2024 school year, 57.8% of Bell Middle School students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 51.8% for the district and 44.1% for the state. In Math, 40.7% of Bell Middle School students were proficient or better, matching the district average but exceeding the state average of 34.2%. The school has a relatively homogeneous student population, with 75.38% of students identifying as White, which is significantly higher than nearby schools like Carmody Middle School (50.81% White) and Creighton Middle School (43.45% White). Additionally, Bell Middle School has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (32.69%) compared to nearby schools, suggesting it serves a more affluent student population.

Bell Middle School has consistently ranked in the top 25-30% of Colorado middle schools, with a ranking of 124 out of 485 schools in the 2023-2024 school year. This high ranking, along with the school's strong academic performance and relatively homogeneous student population, may attract families to the school and contribute to its reputation in the community.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 1001 Ulysses Street
       Golden, CO  80401-2660


(303) 982-4280

District: Jefferson County School District No. R-1

SchoolDigger Rank:
124th of 485 Colorado Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,269 Help


Students who attend Bell Middle School usually attend:

High:    Golden High School

Feeder schools for Bell Middle School:

Elementary:    Kyffin Elementary School
    Maple Grove Elementary School
    Mitchell Elementary School
    Ralston Elementary School
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  18.6 Help
Number of students:  751

Racial breakdown:

White:
75.8%
Hispanic:
16.9%
Two or more races:
4.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  29.6% Help


 See top rated Colorado middle schools

 Compare Bell Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Bell Middle School ranks better than 74.4% of middle schools in Colorado. It also ranks 8th among 19 ranked middle schools in the Jefferson County School District No. R-1. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 70.14. (See more...)
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (75.8%), Hispanic (16.9%), two or more races (4.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 29.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bell Middle School is 18.6. 12 middle schools in the Jefferson County School District No. R-1 have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Bell Middle School employs 40.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bell Middle School is $14,269. 12 middle schools in the Jefferson County School District No. R-1 spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bell Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Bell Middle School 124th of 485 Colorado public middle schools. (See Bell Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
White students:


Jefferson County School District No. R-1:

SchoolDigger ranks Jefferson County School District No. R-1 35th of 116 Colorado school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Bell Middle School.

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Rank History for Bell Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Bell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 64.06 116th 336 65.5%
2005 70.06 99th 340 70.9%
2006 72.74 88th 346 74.6%
2007 73.68 86th 360 76.1%
2008 66.36 107th 362 70.4%
2009 66.77 116th 377 69.2%
2010 62.62 149th 409 63.6%
2011 59.19 180th 422 57.3%
2012 61.84 167th 425 60.7%
2013 57.38 192nd 454 57.7%
2014 68.85 133rd 461 71.1%
2015 72.57 81st 436 81.4%
2016 74.69 67th 400 83.3%
2017 76.94 71st 424 83.3%
2018 75.48 75th 418 82.1%
2019 72.68 97th 458 78.8%
2021 65.44 109th 369 70.5%
2022 56.95 167th 448 62.7%
2023 68.48 125th 480 74.0%
2024 70.14 124th 485 74.4%
See the entire list of Colorado Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 46.70 98th 222 55.9%
2019 49.47 105th 240 56.3%
2022 28.08 143rd 197 27.4%
2023 27.35 182nd 241 24.5%
2024 39.65 139th 244 43.0%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 71.13 67th 315 78.7%
2019 68.44 96th 352 72.7%
2021 63.31 75th 254 70.5%
2022 48.48 154th 326 52.8%
2023 62.46 117th 363 67.8%
2024 71.95 86th 350 75.4%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Bell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.00 96th 121 20.7%
2019 31.60 111th 134 17.2%
2022 33.73 78th 93 16.1%
2023 55.38 70th 125 44.0%
2024 61.61 55th 126 56.3%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Middle Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 71.71 65th 317 79.5%
2019 70.66 86th 343 74.9%
2021 55.69 100th 249 59.8%
2022 53.98 119th 328 63.7%
2023 63.25 106th 356 70.2%
2024 58.94 118th 357 66.9%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 51.16 72nd 165 56.4%
2019 47.70 106th 220 51.8%
2022 30.04 115th 169 32.0%
2023 35.05 122nd 198 38.4%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Bell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 59.09 69th 199 65.3%
2019 59.60 98th 283 65.4%
2021 50.42 96th 203 52.7%
2022 45.92 140th 265 47.2%
2023 55.48 117th 286 59.1%
2024 59.67 100th 273 63.4%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Colorado Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Bell Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent on FaceBook
Thursday, November 20, 2014

Open Quote This is a very innovative middle school. If your child is creative, non-traditional, and open minded, this school is a great fit! Unlike private or some academic focused public schools, students at Bell do not need to constantly take quizzes and tests on core subjects to show their understanding of the subjects. They focus more on learning the subjects in depth rather than strictly memorizations. Also, students there are taught to work as a team, so they are often assigned with group projects as their assignments. And one of the best things I like at this school is that the school promotes using technology as part of their learning vehicle. The students can bring their electronic devices to school and use them, and also they regularly use the internet to research and turn in assignments. I feel that the school is doing a good job preparing the students to the real world. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Bell Middle School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 715 1 18 30 2 n/a n/a 0 766
1989 584 4 10 28 9 n/a n/a 0 635
1990 558 5 12 27 6 n/a n/a 0 608
1991 597 7 12 29 3 n/a n/a 0 648
1992 674 4 12 27 2 n/a n/a 0 719
1993 698 5 16 23 3 n/a n/a 0 745
1994 733 2 21 27 9 n/a n/a 0 792
1995 703 5 15 42 7 n/a n/a 0 772
1996 703 5 15 42 7 n/a n/a 0 772
1997 680 4 18 45 10 n/a n/a 0 757
1998 690 6 19 43 10 n/a n/a 0 768
1999 723 4 20 45 7 n/a n/a 0 799
2000 720 7 20 54 4 n/a n/a 0 805
2001 680 7 18 66 14 n/a n/a 0 785
2002 580 3 25 71 6 n/a n/a 0 685
2003 580 3 25 71 6 n/a n/a 0 685
2004 592 10 19 76 12 n/a n/a 0 709
2005 523 15 28 69 12 n/a n/a 0 647
2006 561 8 19 64 8 n/a n/a 0 660
2007 583 5 17 55 13 n/a n/a 0 673
2008 491 7 22 48 6 n/a n/a 0 574
2009 448 9 21 51 5 n/a n/a 0 534
2010 427 11 18 74 3 n/a n/a 0 533
2011 374 11 10 81 9 0 20 0 505
2012 389 10 9 69 8 4 10 0 499
2013 391 5 12 86 4 4 10 0 512
2014 485 7 18 91 4 1 15 0 621
2015 494 4 23 78 1 0 22 0 622
2016 591 1 23 98 3 2 26 0 744
2017 617 3 25 111 3 3 23 0 785
2018 589 3 24 110 1 3 18 0 748
2019 713 10 19 146 7 5 26 0 926
2020 694 14 18 158 11 2 30 0 927
2021 634 14 16 154 8 2 30 0 858
2022 588 8 14 129 7 1 31 0 778
2023 551 6 12 119 5 0 38 0 731
2024 569 9 9 127 5 0 32 0 751

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bell Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 766 37.2 20.5 n/a
1989 635 32.6 19.4 10.4
1990 608 30.1 20.1 8.7
1991 648 32.1 20.1 7.7
1992 719 34.4 20.9 7.4
1993 745 37.0 20.1 7.5
1994 792 37.1 21.3 10.6
1995 772 38.0 20.3 11.9
1996 772 38.0 20.3 11.9
1997 757 37.6 20.1 12.3
1998 768 37.7 20.4 10.2
1999 799 40.5 19.7 10.5
2000 805 38.0 21.2 14.5
2001 785 42.6 18.4 14
2002 685 38.9 17.6 20.7
2003 685 38.9 17.6 20.7
2004 709 38.8 18.3 22.8
2005 647 35.0 18.5 22.7
2006 660 34.4 19.2 23.6
2007 673 34.2 19.7 22.7
2008 574 31.2 18.4 25.1
2009 534 31.0 17.2 27.5
2010 533 29.6 18.0 32.6
2011 505 29.4 17.1 34.9
2012 499 26.4 18.9 33.3
2013 512 34.4 14.8 35.5
2014 621 38.2 16.2 32.9
2015 622 35.0 17.7 29.4
2016 744 38.0 19.5 26.6
2017 785 39.8 19.7 25
2018 748 38.1 19.6 23.3
2019 926 48.9 18.9 27.6
2020 927 45.2 20.4 30.1
2021 858 45.3 18.9 32.2
2022 778 43.6 17.8 28.3
2023 731 40.8 17.9 32.7
2024 751 40.1 18.6 29.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bell Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 766 37.2 20.5 n/a
1989 635 32.6 19.4 10.4
1990 608 30.1 20.1 8.7
1991 648 32.1 20.1 7.7
1992 719 34.4 20.9 7.4
1993 745 37.0 20.1 7.5
1994 792 37.1 21.3 10.6
1995 772 38.0 20.3 11.9
1996 772 38.0 20.3 11.9
1997 757 37.6 20.1 12.3
1998 768 37.7 20.4 10.2
1999 799 40.5 19.7 10.5
2000 805 38.0 21.2 14.5
2001 785 42.6 18.4 14
2002 685 38.9 17.6 20.7
2003 685 38.9 17.6 20.7
2004 709 38.8 18.3 22.8
2005 647 35.0 18.5 22.7
2006 660 34.4 19.2 23.6
2007 673 34.2 19.7 22.7
2008 574 31.2 18.4 25.1
2009 534 31.0 17.2 27.5
2010 533 29.6 18.0 32.6
2011 505 29.4 17.1 34.9
2012 499 26.4 18.9 33.3
2013 512 34.4 14.8 35.5
2014 621 38.2 16.2 32.9
2015 622 35.0 17.7 29.4
2016 744 38.0 19.5 26.6
2017 785 39.8 19.7 25
2018 748 38.1 19.6 23.3
2019 926 48.9 18.9 27.6
2020 927 45.2 20.4 30.1
2021 858 45.3 18.9 32.2
2022 778 43.6 17.8 28.3
2023 731 40.8 17.9 32.7
2024 751 40.1 18.6 29.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bell Middle School

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $10,220
2020 $10,398
2021 $10,509
2022 $12,651
2023 $14,269

Data source: Colorado Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bell Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 97th of 458 Middle schoolsRanks 125th of 480 Middle schools
 4.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Bell Middle School)61.352.3
 9%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)51.549.3
 2.2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)43.643.4
 0.2%
6th Grade Math (Bell Middle School)40.137.8
 2.3%
   6th Grade Math (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)3532.2
 2.8%
   6th Grade Math (Colorado)29.528.2
 1.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Bell Middle School)55.756.1
 0.4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)51.949.6
 2.3%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)46.545
 1.5%
7th Grade Math (Bell Middle School)40.730.2
 10.5%
   7th Grade Math (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)38.630.9
 7.7%
   7th Grade Math (Colorado)31.626.3
 5.3%
8th Grade Science (Bell Middle School)4648.6
 2.6%
   8th Grade Science (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)38.137.1
 1%
   8th Grade Science (Colorado)31.531.3
 0.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Bell Middle School)60.557.9
 2.6%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)50.748.5
 2.2%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)46.942.4
 4.5%
8th Grade Math (Bell Middle School)4843
 5%
   8th Grade Math (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)42.139
 3.1%
   8th Grade Math (Colorado)36.932.7
 4.2%
All Grades English Language Arts (Bell Middle School)59.155.3
 3.8%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)51.750.8
 0.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Colorado)45.843.7
 2.1%
All Grades Math (Bell Middle School)4336.8
 6.2%
   All Grades Math (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)39.838.7
 1.1%
   All Grades Math (Colorado)34.732.9
 1.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students926731
 21.1%
African American106
 40%
American Indian75
 28.6%
Asian1912
 36.8%
Hispanic146119
 18.5%
Pacific Islander50
 100%
White713551
 22.7%
Two or More Races2638
 46.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients27.6%32.7%
 5%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Bell Middle School

Bell Middle School ranks 124th of 485 Colorado middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students at Bell Middle School are 76% White, 17% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% Asian.

Students who attend Bell Middle School usually go on to attend Golden High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 751 students attended Bell Middle School.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Colorado Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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